Women will celebrate international day with style

Emily Ace | South Western Times

Sunday, 18 February 2018 6:40AM

Aerial artists Michele Jenkins and Charlotte Murphy, 13, from Viva Aerial Dance join the South West Women’s Health and Information Centre management committee chairperson Karen Collins in preparing for the symposium.Picture: Jon Gellweiler / South Western Times

Inspiring speakers, dynamic workshops and breathtaking performers will come together at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on March 10 to celebrate International Women’s Day.

South West Women’s Health and Information Centre manager Lesley Jackes said visitors to the symposium, titled Women as we age – Identity and Transition, should prepare to “be inspired, reflective and joyous”.

The morning will feature a diverse range of speakers including 2017 Miles-Franklin Award winner Josephine Wilson, 12-year-old Bella Burgemeister and American author Karen Paget, who is travelling from Colorado to speak at the event.

“The speakers cover all of the things which shape us, we couldn’t be luckier,” Ms Jackes said.

After a morning of speakers, the audience will break into their choice of 16 workshops.

“We have an incredible range from memoir writing, to steel drumming, to a vision for women over the next 20 years,” she said.

The event will also include performances by Viva Aerial Dance and will finish with a surprise grand finale.

Aerial artist Michele Jenkins said the first act would be a “multi-generational performance” alongside artists from Freespirit Trapeze.

“We are going from 13-year-old Charlotte in her first performance all the way to a woman on the trapeze who is 69-years-old,” she said.

“As the piece progresses with the Vocal Fusion Choir in the background, more generations will join to end with five people in the air from across three generations.”